Four young people, aged 17 to 19, lost their lives in a car accident in Klaukkala, Nurmijärvi, during the early hours of Saturday.
The vehicle veered off the road and plunged into the Luhtajoki river, police have confirmed.
"Rescue services and police arrived within minutes. Four young people were pulled from the car but were later pronounced dead in hospital," said Leif Malmberg, head investigator at the Eastern Uusimaa Police Department. He noted that there were no signs of life at the scene.
The accident was reported shortly before 4am by a passer-by who noticed the crash on Tulvatie. Police believe the last sighting of the car before the incident was at 1:30am.
Dangerous winter conditions
Initial investigations indicate the car hit a bridge railing before falling into the river. Malmberg stated that icy road conditions likely contributed to the accident.
"The area was icy, presenting typical challenges of winter driving," he explained.
Meteorologist Aleksi Lohtander reported that nearby weather stations, including Espoo Nuuksio and Helsinki Airport, recorded clear skies, no precipitation and temperatures around minus 13 degrees Celsius at the time of the crash.
"The oldest victim was only 19, so they likely didn't have significant driving experience," Malmberg added.
Police and the Safety Investigation Authority of Finland are conducting technical and on-site investigations to determine the exact cause of the crash. Autopsies will also be carried out to establish the cause of death.
Interior Minister Mari Rantanen (Finns) expressed her condolences on the social media platform X, offering her sympathy to the victims' families and loved ones.